How to save a mask?

[Jerry van Dijk]

Just wondering if and how I can save a mask I created in CS5.

I've created a mask to manipulate the BG in one of my images, without affecting the subject. I've got different JPG versions of this image (with and without removed elements) and I'd like to use this mask, which took me quite some time to paint, on one of the other versions.
Is there a way to save the mask (not the selection) and reuse it later, or copy it from one image to another?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Stuart Hill]

Turn the mask into a selection and save the selection. This will create a new alpha channel which, when you save as a tiff will stay in the file. To re use, just go to [load selection] alpha 1 and hit the layer mask button.

With more than one document open, you can simply drag the alpha channel across to use it on the other file. Think you hold shift to keep it in the same place.

May be other ways.

regards.
Stu.

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks Stuart! I'll have a go at it in the evening.

[Jerry van Dijk]

Hi Stuart, just to let you know: it worked wonderful. I had some trouble in reverting the alpha channel back into a selection in another image, but with a little trial and error I managed. Thanks again!

[Charles Glatzer]

Hi Stuart, just to let you know: it worked wonderful. I had some trouble in reverting the alpha channel back into a selection in another image, but with a little trial and error I managed. Thanks again!

You only need to Cmd or Ctrl click the layer or mask thumbnail to turn it back into a selection.

Fyi - you can drag an adjustment layer(s) into the new image. You can additionally Alt click the mask, and copy it. Alt click the mask and drag it into a new layer. There is more, but that should get you going.

Chas

[Jerry van Dijk]

Thanks Chas, I did not think of Alt-clicking while dragging. What worked for me was opening both images, selecting the alpha channel in the one and pressing load selection in the other, selecting the image with the alpha channel as the source.